Istanbul Floods Today: 14-Year-Old Boy Dies After Electrocution as Torrential Rain Floods Homes, Collapses Roads & Shuts Schools Across Türkiye’s Largest City – Check School Closures & Motorcycle Ban

Istanbul Floods Today: A walk through a rain-filled street turned fatal for a 14-year-old boy in Istanbul as torrential rain flooded the neighbourhood, stranded motorists and brought parts of Türkiye’s largest city close to a standstill. The boy died after an electric shock in a water-filled area in the Balat neighbourhood of Fatih on Wednesday, October 14, as Emergency crews responded to thousands of weather-related incidents.

Authorities suspended in-person classes across Istanbul for Thursday, October 15, restricted motorcycle use, and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Turkish media have also reported a second death linked to the flooding, involving a 34-year-old man in the Sariyer district.

Istanbul Floods: What Happened to the 14-Year-Old Boy?

The teenager was walking through puddles near a car park in the Balat area when he stepped into standing water and suffered an electric shock. Surveillance footage, verified by Al Jazeera, showed him suddenly collapsing.

You Might Be Interested In

The Istanbul Governor’s Office said rescuers took the boy to hospital while he was unconscious, but doctors could not save him. Authorities opened an investigation into the incident.

The flooding also claimed another life, according to Turkish media reports. A 34-year-old man reportedly fell and struck his head while trying to cross a flooded road in the Ayazağa neighbourhood of Sarıyer. The reports indicate that he later died in hospital.

Istanbul Floods Today: More Than 1,200 Flood Incidents Reported

The downpour began on Tuesday evening after Türkiye’s weather service issued warnings. Heavy rainfall continued to affect Istanbul on Wednesday, overwhelming streets, underpasses, homes and commercial buildings.

According to figures released by the Istanbul Governor’s Office, emergency services received 2,518 reports of weather-related incidents between 6 am and 8 pm on October 14. Authorities recorded 1,277 flooding incidents, 15 landslides, 47 cases of people becoming stranded, 13 fallen trees and two damaged roofs.